Cabot Cove County Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) have their hands full yet once again, dealing with one problem after another after an illegal gambling operation takes root in the community, causing young Deputy Ethan Loomis (Matthew Flint) temptation with corruption.
Lou Keramides (Richard Beymer) operates a new restaurant in Cabot Cove, which houses the illegal casino in its upstairs dining room. But each time Sheriff Metzger plans a raid, all evidence disappears, leading him to suspect a mole in his operation.
Sam Bennett (Wings Hauser), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), handles the local account for clients as Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who continually attempts to reach him for statements and reports, but to no avail, for he has been gambling away entrusted funds.
Sam's wife, Laura Bennett (Penelope Windust), and their daughter, Candace Bennett (Liz Vassey), neither know how to reach Sam when clients attempt to contact him.
But to her parents' disapproval, Candace Bennett strings along her suitor Chad Macinoy (Adam Trese), and ditches him in favor of Deputy Ethan Loomis, whom Sam and Chad disdain.
Chad's mother, Irene Macinoy (Carrie Snodgress), operates a small Cabot Cove classifieds newspaper bulletin, which employs the loyal Chad, whose income cannot sustain Candace's lifestyle.
Then one evening, when Jessica dines as Keramides' Restaurant with Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), she notices Sam Bennett's descending its staircase and captures his attention long enough to realize that he's been dabbling in her funds.
But when Sheriff Metzger plans another raid on the establishment, someone shoots a bullet through the station window and injures him albeit not severely.
And the next day, on a rural route outside of Cabot Cove, someone take a shot at the driver of a passing automobile, mortally wounding the victim, and causing additional "Love and Hate in Cabot Cove," resulting from murder.
The cast is rounded out by Trent Dolan as Jason David, James Willett as Croupier, David Stenstrom as Craps Player, Jayson Kane as Waiter and Rick Scarry as Minister.
